Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The somewhat shifting supergroup known as The Dead Daisies always draw a considerable crowd, but when it was announced the latest line-up would perform only a single show in all of America, the hallowed Arcada Theatre in St. Charles quickly became a global destination.

In addition to boasting the return of singer/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), who wasn’t able to get to the States on “The Chosen Years” Tour due to a now-resolved health issue, it featured founding rhythm guitarist David Lowy (Doc Neeson’s Angels, Red Phoenix, Mink), lead guitarist Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio, Lion) and drummer Tommy Clufetos (Sabbath, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper).

Divided into two portions that could’ve nearly been considered full-length concerts on their own, the one-off was described as “One Band … Two Sets Playing Daisies Hits & Deep Purple Classics,” which is precisely how it went down for area regulars and fans who flew in from practically everywhere.

They were greeted by the best of the Hughes-led “Holy Ground” and “Radiance” albums, alongside a few first cut with fellow famed front men John Corabi (Mötley Crüe), such as “Unspoken,” “Resurrected,” “My Fate” and “Born To Fly.”

“Rise Up,” “Hypnotize Yourself” and “Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)” were amongst the rest that felt noticeably more forceful in person, plus there was a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” channeled through The Dead Dasies’ steamroller-like delivery.

After a brief break, Hughes and company revisited his Mark III and IV periods in Deep Purple, perhaps the most unique period of the English hard rock/heavy metal pioneers’ entire history given the fact there were two vocalists, the other being future Whitesnake leader David Coverdale, on top of a guitar hero switch from the legendary Ritchie Blackmore and to hot shot newcomer Tommy Bolin.

The Dead Daisies’ did a remarkable job replicating the complicated parts, while Hughes remains a formidable singer and player, even at 74-years-old, whose mastery of the material on “Burn,” “Stormbringer” and “Come Taste The Band” only increased in the subsequent decades

Together, they roared through those title tracks, “Sail Away,” “Gettin’ Tighter,” “Might Just Take Your Life” and “Mistreated,” bringing some seriously aggressive and innovative sounds of the 1970s to yet another generation of headbangers and fist-raisers.

No matter the amount of miles they traveled to the Arcada, Hughes and The Dead Daisies made sure it was well worth it, especially as bonus interpretations of “Space Truckin’,” “Smoke On The Water ” and “Highway Star” heralded this an exclusive for the ages.

For additional information on The Dead Daisies featuring Glenn Hughes, visit TheDeadDaisies.com and GlennHughes.com.

Upcoming shows at the Arcada Theatre include The Neverly Brothers (May 31); Genesis Retouched (Jun. 4); Lynch Mob (Jun. 5); Straight From The Heart (Jun. 6); Todd Rundgren (Jun. 11); Hotel California (Jun. 12); The UFO Experience featuring Andy Parker (Jun. 13); Todd Rundgren (Jun. 14); Brandy Clark (Jun. 18); Stryper (Jun. 19); Aldo Nova (Jun. 20); Larkin Poe (Jun. 26); Vertical Horizon (Jun. 27) and AJ Croce (Jun. 28); Lou Gramm (Jul. 10); Zebra (Jul. 11); Ted Nugent (Jul. 15); Jon Anderson And The Band Geeks (Jul. 17); DDXS (Jul. 24); L.A. Guns (Jul. 25); The Rascals (Jul. 26); The Doo Wop Project (Jul. 26); Arrival From Sweden (Jul. 30) and Nektar (Jul. 31). For additional details, visit ArcadaLive.com.

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